JaVale McGee

This past offseason after winning a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, JaVale McGee and a 2026 second-round pick was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell. This move was made for the Lakers to free up some cap space in order to retain guys like Anthony Davis, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope and Markieff Morris. 

Through the Cavaliers first five games of the season, McGee looked like an impact player for them off-the-bench, as he averaged 9.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.0 block and shot 52.6% from the floor in the month of December. When the new year hit though, McGee’s production and his minutes began to decline.

Now, with Jarrett Allen on the roster, the Cavs have a plethora of centers and with McGee only being owed $4.2M this season, he is a prime target for the Brooklyn Nets. All the Nets need is a big man who is more than capable of grabbing rebounds and being aggressive in the paint, which is what McGee has been known for over his entire career. 

Not to mention, he already has a strong relationship with Kevin Durant from their time playing together with the Golden State Warriors and winning a championship there. Much like he was an impact bench player for the Warriors then in their quest for another championship, JaVale McGee can play the same role for the Brooklyn Nets. 

If the Cavaliers were willing to accept this offer, the Nets could get away with trading Nicolas Claxton, Tyler Johnson and some second-round picks for the veteran big man. With a cheap salary for this season and a small asking price, the Nets could get exactly what they need for their frontcourt in JaVale McGee.